An inexpensive method for graphene production was reported on Gizmag on 4/30. This will be a game changer for graphene. Perhaps you should e-mail me about getting on my e-mail blast list. I know that this news item was in Section 24 (my nanotechnology section) of my newsletter. I send the newsletter out sporadically, sometimes every week and sometimes only once per month.

www.gizmag.com/graphene-kitchen-blender/...

This one should be in aiche051514.doc, a monster file. E-mail me at jbrenner@fit.edu if interested in the newsletter. There are always a couple of new developments on graphene.

The way Intel makes silicon-based chips uses finer and finer lithographic methods using higher and higher energy (now deep into the UV). Graphene circuitry will require a different, bottom-up approach. This is one of the major themes of my nanotechnology course.

Several years ago, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were the rage both because of a high strength-to-weight ratio and their high conductivity. CNTs have not become mainstream because cost of production has not come down sufficiently. The purification step is possible, but it is enough of a pain that it will never be cost-effective.

Graphene, on the other hand, is not hard at all to make. I could teach any of you how to do it in a few hours. Imagine a single layer of graphite. Many of you have probably peeled graphite layers for hobby applications before, for example. Because of its cost and ease of production, graphene will be a game changer, particularly in flexible electronics.